Delay in peace talks multiplying problems for Nagaland: CM

Continued delay in talks with Naga groups like NSCN-IM and absence of any clear directions from the Union Home Ministry were multiplying problems for Nagaland, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said.

Accusing the Centre of not being "sincere" in talks with underground groups, Rio, who heads the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government in this Northeastern state, said that there was no clear cut direction from the Union Home Ministry about what was the fate of talks with NSCN-IM.

"Definitely, the delay (in talks between NSCN-IM and Centre) is the cause of all the problems. It is getting multiplied. We want to see the sincerity of the government of India and the underground groups to resolve it," Rio told PTI here last night after his meeting with Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

The state government blamed the Centre for the ongoing clashes between Naga rebel groups. In this factional fighting, nearly 20 people, including civilians and students, have been killed since March this year.

Rio, whose government came to power in March for the second consecutive term, said "the state government is getting sandwiched between the Centre and the underground groups".

The Chief Minister said he had asked the Home Ministry whether the new group called NSCN-Unification had been in touch with it and sought direction in dealing with the situation.

Rio ruled out, as of now, any fresh deployment of forces to tackle the insurgents, saying "when it is required, we will ask for it. There is no immediate demand for more force".

In a related development, various organisations and individuals today asked rival underground groups to exercise restraint.

In a joint statement, 22 students organisations under the banner of Naga Students Federation (NSF) said the acts of violence perpetrated by underground cadres with total disregard to human lives displayed their "insincerity" towards the greater Naga political cause.

Asking underground factions to refrain from killings in the larger interest of Nagaland, Naga Council Dimapur said the present situation called for dialogues to sort out differences.

Over 20 people, including civilians and students, were killed in the stepped-up turf war between rival NSCN(IM) and NSCN (Unification) in and around state's business hub Dimapur since March. Both groups blamed each other for the renewed violence in the state.